Queen (Makoto Niijima), the latest limited-time character from the Goddess of Victory: NIKKE and Persona series collaboration, has arrived. As one of only two Burst III Fire-code shotgun dealers alongside Drake, there was early chatter about her potential as a cornerstone for shotgun builds. However, a deeper dive into her mechanics suggests that she might actually be better off paired with Yukiko Amagi, who is joining the fray soon. We at KookminTree have crunched the numbers to see if this Queen truly reigns supreme.

Q. What kind of character is Queen (Makoto Niijima)?
A. A powerhouse that boosts her own elemental damage and buffs the attack power of Persona-allied units.

Makoto is equipped with permanent buffs for 'Elemental Code Damage' and 'Attack Power.' At Level 10, she dishes out a staggering 39.15% increase in Elemental Code Damage, 50.28% in Attack Power, and 30% in Attack Damage. Her Burst Skill, 'Mahapraedain,' further sweetens the deal: if the target is a Fire-code enemy, she triggers a 10-second '1more' buff, granting an additional 30.27% Attack Power boost.

Her Skill 1, 'Persona: Johanna,' fires off distributed damage to all enemies based on her final attack power whenever the '1more' buff is active. This isn't just a simple add-on; it's an extra hit that functions independently of her Burst skill damage. While we haven't tested it in live combat yet, her synergy with Yukiko’s 'Pursuit' buff promises even more distributed damage triggers. Meanwhile, Skill 2, 'Iron Fist of Justice!', bolsters her elemental damage and provides a distributed damage buff for 10 seconds upon entering Burst Stage 3.

Furthermore, once the '1more' buff is active, she applies an attack boost (based on the caster’s stats) to all 'Persona' status allies with a base Burst stage of 3, excluding Makoto herself. This stacks up to three times, with each stack granting 35.2% attack power. Since Yukiko is the only other character fitting this criteria, we will revisit this dynamic in next week’s Yukiko analysis.

Q. How should I use Queen (Makoto Niijima)?
A. Use her as a standalone in shotgun decks, or as part of a distributed damage deck when paired with Yukiko.

Let’s talk performance. We tested Makoto in the Union Shooting Range—3-minute boss fight, fixed stats—comparing shotgun builds against distributed damage builds. Our test compositions included 'Tove - Arcana: Fortune Mate - Treasure Drake - Soline: Frost Ticket' and 'Little Mermaid - Mast: Romantic Maid - Treasure Drake - Anchor: Innocent Maid.'

The verdict? Without Yukiko, Makoto was objectively stronger in a shotgun deck, hitting 1 billion damage compared to 840 million in a distributed damage setup—a 160 million gap. Being a shotgun wielder, she benefits immensely from the buffs provided by 'Treasure Tove - Arcana: Fortune Mate - Treasure Drake'.

In the distributed damage environment, Makoto’s individual output and attack power saw a massive spike, but it still trailed behind her shotgun performance. We need to re-evaluate once Yukiko—her natural partner—arrives. According to the revealed skills, Yukiko grants Makoto an 80.25% attack power boost. Once Makoto gets that buff, the distributed damage output is expected to skyrocket.

Q. Should I pull for Queen (Makoto Niijima)?
A. Given the limited collaboration status and her solid performance, picking up at least one copy is highly recommended.

As mentioned, Makoto is a capable unit on her own. She will likely be a staple in Fire-weakness content. In Goddess of Victory: NIKKE, the roster of Fire-code Burst III units is quite thin: Alice, Rapi: Red Hood, Drake, Vesti: Tactical Up, Mihara: Bonding Chain, Diesel: Winter Sweets, and Modernia. Given that Solo Raids require five teams—typically needing two Burst III dealers per team—Makoto’s value is undeniable.

Moreover, she is a collaboration exclusive. No one knows if or when she will return. Veterans know the drill: grab at least one copy of every collaboration character. Since she holds her own in shotgun decks, your investment won't go to waste. If you are hesitant about burning your gems or recruit tickets, feel free to wait until Yukiko’s banner arrives.

Makoto and Yukiko are essentially a package deal; their true potential is unlocked when used together, so waiting until then is perfectly reasonable. If you are aiming to conquer Fire-weakness Solo Raids, secure your copy now. If your resources are tight or you plan to skip those raids, take a moment to weigh your options.